BSB: Cougs extend winning streak to 6 games with DH sweep over UVU
Washington State tallied 29 hits in a doubleheader sweep of Utah Valley at Bailey-Brayton Field Saturday, taking the opener 10-0 and the second game 9-2.
The Cougars improved to 9-4 overall with their sixth straight victory as the bats came alive to back some outstanding pitching efforts to record the longest winning streak since 2014.
Junior third baseman Shane Matheny led the way with a combined six hits on the day including a 4-for-4 performance in game two while sophomore shortstop Andres Alvarez tallied five hits in the two games.
Sophomore outfielder Justin Harrer drove in two runs in both games and junior outfielder J.J. Hancock recorded three hits in the second game.
GAME 1: Matheny, Cory Meyer and Alvarez each collected two hits in the opener to support junior starter Ryan Walker who dominated, striking out a career-high eight while walking just one and allowing three hits in 6.2 scoreless innings.
The Arlington, Wash. native struck out three of the first six batters including the side in the second inning and didn't allow a baserunner past second until he was lifted with two outs in the seventh.
The Cougars used five hits and one Wolverine error to score four runs and break the scoreless tie. Rudkin came through with a two-out, two-run double down the left field line to score Derek Chapman and Shane Matheny. Cory Meyer then reached after his popup dropped in between three Wolverines in right field, allowing Rudkin to score for a 3-0 lead. Meyer would come around to score as Hancock pulled a 1-1 pitch down the line and off the first base bag for an RBI single and a 4-0 WSU advantage.
Walker and reliever Joe Rosenstein combined for a scoreless seventh and the Cougars put the game out of reach with a six-run bottom half of the seventh. With the bases loaded, one run came home on Matheny's infield single and another scored after a throwing error on the same play. Meyer later pulled a single through the left side to drive in a run, freshman Danny Sinatro drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and Justin Harrer capped the inning with a two-run double to right centerfield for a 10-0 lead.
Rosenstein worked a scoreless eighth inning and sophomore Caleb McAlister got the final two outs in the ninth to seal up the win. WSU finished with 11 hits in the first game.
GAME 2: The Cougar offense picked up where they left off, erupting for six runs in the opening frame. Chapman led off with a single to centerfield and stole second before Matheny doubled to right centerfield to score Chapman. Rudkin followed with a single through the left side and Meyer then doubled off the left field walk to drive in two runs. Following a single back up the middle by Hancock, Harrer drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.
Blake Clanton followed with an opposite-field triple off the left wall and scored on an double to left centerfield by Alavrez, who later scored on a Ryan Ramsower double to left centerfield for a 5-0 lead. The final run of the inning scored on a bases-loaded walk to Matheny.
That was more than enough for Anderson who cruised through his seven innings of work, allowing just a pair of unearned runs in the third inning. The junior lefthander allowed just one baserunner his final four innings, striking out two in a perfect seventh inning before giving way to the bullpen.
Washington State answered UVU's two runs in the third inning with an RBI single from Matheny, a sacrifice fly from Harrer in the sixth and an infield single from Clanton in the eighth inning for a 9-2 win.
Junior reliever Colby Nealy worked the final two innings to seal up the victory. Anderson improved to 2-0 after matching his season-high with seven strikeouts.
The series wraps up Sunday at Noon.
GAME NOTES: James Rudkin has reached base in 10 straight games…Andres Alvarez has reached base in eight straight games…J.J. Hancock owns a team-best seven-game hitting streak…Shane Matheny has hit safely in six straight contests…Cody Anderson has not allowed an earned run in 13 innings, spanning two appearances.
